Iroquoia Section - Mount Nemo (91 km) to Guelph Line (83.5 km) - March 2,2023.

Iroquoia Section - Mount Nemo (91 km) to Guelph Line (83.5 km) - March 2, 2023.

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March is roaring in like a lion as I type this but thankfully the weather gods were gracious this past week and allowed us to enjoy a winter walk again...Hiking with Friends showed up in numbers at Mount Nemo and moved ourselves, by foot my friend, almost 10 kilometers in around 3 hours through snow, over rocks, down a really steep slope, and along some of S.W Ontario's most scenic roads (ok, that's a stretch) just because we could...all on the Bruce Trail. Hard to believe?...Well here's the proof...

The dramatic profile of Mount Nemo provides a stark outline for the first half of our hike, then it's pretty much a straight path from there (with a right turn thrown in just to keep us awake)...it's a shame that no private land owner agreement here allows that nice stretch of forested escarpment to be used by harmless hikers like ourselves...

 With parking lot business having been attended to, and icer's applied to our footwear, we gather at Mount Nemo to record those in attendance...including myself, Andrea, Hike Coordinator Barbara, Lesley, Sandra, Liz, Steve R, Steve K, Ron J, Nancy, Laura, Ron B, Rita, Doug, Peter, Annette, and Marlene.

 

We are off on the trail and conditions are pretty decent...overcast and just a couple of degrees below zero so the snow pack is reasonably firm underfoot...and very minimal wind...the group quickly stretches out along the path...

There's not much elevation profile early on, or at all really, as we will only have to climb a paltry 175 meters today...there was a "down-side" to hiking in this direction however, that we will arrive at later...

The pace is lively and conversation can be heard over the ever present "crunch-crunch" of our feet on the frozen trail...

As our bodies warm, there's the inevitable break for some clothing adjustments and a chance for us to regroup...

It's a good time to welcome and introduce two new friends that are putting their best feet forward and expanding our group...hello to Rita and Andrea!

The terrain starts to get a little more prolific and we enjoy some ups, downs, and "arounds"...this is the nicest stretch of trail today...

A decent little climb with a patient line leaving a nice safe gap between hikers...we appreciate each other's experienced approach to enjoying the day safely and respectfully...

Our efforts have paid off by way of an expansive, if somewhat greyish, view to the northwest and Rattlesnake Point in the distance...

It's another "natural" spot to take a break and bring us all closer together...

The vistas are coming fast and furious and dare I say, is it getting a little brighter out as well?..

We linger at the look out...the mood is buoyant and why wouldn't it be when you get to hike with so many friends?..

And there you go...we have shadows!..as the sun finally breaks through the low cloud, the day and our mood brightens...even more...

Ron B and Steve have been leading the way, but they stop as I approach...looking somewhat stern...what could possibly lie ahead that would give them cause for concern?...we follow along...

There's that look again...apparently it translates to "it's all downhill from here"...

Ron B is the first to tackle the treacherous, icy slope down to the treacherous, icy ladder that leads to the treacherous, icy rocks below...newcomer Andrea is either fixing her toque, or reassessing her decision to partake in this adventure...

Others relax and wait their turn...with like, "when will the Leafs ever win another Cup?" level, patience...

And here is the value of having an experienced and respected former hike leader in our midst as Steve K patiently and reassuringly assists others in making the descent safely...

 It takes a while for all 17 of us to negotiate the sloping terrain, but we all arrive at the bottom eventually, unscathed and having met the challenge...

Gradually things start to flatten out as we reach the base of Mount Nemo and the parking lot on Walkers Line...

We are about halfway along our designated route, with a fair bit of road walking ahead, so it's decided we deserve a refreshment break and a chance to enjoy the now brilliant sunshine...

Can you spot the embedded Bruce Trail logo in the iconic peace sign?..well, we certainly do find a lot of peace on the trail I guess...

It's off down the aptly named "Walkers" Line for a stretch with some bucolic scenes to appreciate, made slightly less enjoyable by the intermittent passing of vehicular traffic (as he glances over at the privately owned escarpment land to the west)...

There's a right turn onto No. 1 Side Road and another long stretch of pavement before one last section of real trail...

It's nice to finish up today's hike with a final dose of forest bathing under the warmth of the sun...and a bonus bridge picture!

The home stretch involves following a tree line beside an open field and our procession moves in tandem towards the finish...

The dropped cars on Guelph Line are reached and we are done for the day...a pretty decent winter's day hike has been enjoyed by the Hiking with Friends group today...let's hope our luck with the weather continues next week and we can once again appreciate what the Bruce Trail has to offer! See you then...

The End

"Hey, look at me way down here..."